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Ingelheim am Rhein

In Ingelheim Charlemagne built a palace as an important temporary seat of residence and government to kings and emperors mainly of the early Carolingian and Ottonian dynasties. After the recent excavations, a selection of features was preserved in situ, allowing visitors to appreciate them in their historic context.

AD 850 – 1050

History

When Charlemagne began to build the Pfalz at Ingelheim he had the needed land (crown estate) at his disposal. The site had already standing settlement structures as well as a sacral centre. Some further characteristics include the agricultural advantages, the favourable topography for traffic and transport, as well as the close proximity to the Episcopal town of Mainz.16

Charlemagne and his son Ludwig I used the Pfalz repeatedly.17 In 840, Ludwig I (born 778) Fig. 8 died on an island in the River Rhine near Ingelheim.18 His kingdom was divided in the Treaty of Verdun in 843. Ludwig II (ca 806–876) received East Francia (incl. Ingelheim), which was defined as “everything the other side of the Rhine, as well as the towns and districts of Speyer, Worms and Mainz this side of the Rhine”.19

During the later Carolingian period, the Pfalz lost some of its importance, but began to be used again more regularly as a residence by the Ottonians. There are 33 royal visits documented from the reigns of Henry I (919–936) to Henry II (1002–1024). It was Otto III (980–1002) Fig. 9, crowned already as a child, who used the Pfalz with his mother Theophano (ca 960–991) and his grandmother Adelaide (931/932–999) particularly frequently.20 This is mainly due to its proximity to Mainz, which was the seat of archbishop Willigis (ca 940–1011), the benefactor of Otto III .21

The early Saliens Konrad II (1024–1039) and Henry III (1039–1056) stayed at Ingelheim five times.22 The Pfalz had its last climax when Henry III celebrated his wedding with Agnes of Aquitaine (ca 1025–1077) in 1043.23Fig. 10

One of the most important functions of a Pfalz is the provision of board and lodgings for the King and his entourage.24 However, the rise of the towns meant that most of the provisions were soon delivered through the growing markets. At the same time the power of the church increased and Ingelheim lost its dominant position to the neighbouring towns and bishops’ residencies.25

Archaeology

The construction of the Pfalz was started in the late 8th century, during the reign of Charlemagne on a terrace three kilometres away from the River Rhine, protected from flooding. The complex was designed as a closed, U-shaped structure measuring 145 × 110 m. However, the Pfalz was completed at the earliest in the 10th century. The structure shares some obvious characteristics with the architecture of Roman villas and palaces, providing a good example of the ’Renovatio imperii Romanorum’, the renewal of the Roman Empire under the Carolingian rulers.Fig. 7

The crescent-shaped east side Fig. 11, the single-nave apsis hall used as the royal hall (Aula regia) in the south-west Fig. 12Fig. 13Fig. 14Fig. 15Fig. 16 , the northern front as well as a chapel with three apses, a so-called Trikonchos were built during the reign of the Carolingians.Fig. 17 The main entrance to the Pfalz was located on the eastern side, which was at least two storeys high, with a representative facade, including six round towers.Fig. 18 The towers were used for the water supply of the Pfalz. The church of St Remigius, lying about 400 m away, has to be considered also when reconstructing the early medieval settlement complex. Fig. 19

Before 900, the Trikonchos was replaced by a larger chapel with only one apse. In the 10th century Fig. 20, there is evidence for building works in the Aula regia. An additional church building with cross-shaped floor plan was built at the southern flank of the complex. Today it is called ‘Saalkirche’, with reference to its location in the ‘Ingelheimer Saal’ area. The complex reached its closed U-shaped structure only now although the design had been established during the Carolingian period.Fig. 21Fig. 22 Reinforcements along the walls and the excavation of a ditch are evidence for some initial defensive measures. A full fortification of the complex, however, happened only in the 12th century as part of the expansion of the Pfalz. 26Fig. 23

Art and Architecture

The Pfalz at Ingelheim is an important site for the history of both art and architecture. Some of the walls are still preserved above ground today. The floor plan of the Ottonian Pfalz has been passed down through the generations, as the remains stayed in the local awareness through subsequent use. Further details have been recovered through the monument preservation measurements in the last years.27Fig. 24

The architectural concept for the Pfalz under the Carolingians took up the idea of the ‘Renovatio imperii Romanorum’, the renewal of the Roman Empire. Some of the buildings, their respective positions and architectural features are based on the architecture of Roman villas and palaces. Especially the crescent-shaped eastern building with the inner colonnade and the royal hall (Aula regia) with its polychrome painted walls and the opus sectile floor made with marble and porphyry should be mentioned at this point. The Carolingian Pfalz-church with its three apses is based on byzantine church architecture.28 The overall concept of the Pfalz at Ingelheim is unique, and was not taken up by medieval architecture in general.29

Numerous architectural features like capitals, columns and an impost have survived.30 A relief representation dating to the 8th century was used as spolia in the building of the ‘Burgkirche’ at Ober-Ingelheim. The piece originally belonged to the Pfalz. It is 44 cm high and 64 cm wide and shows a winged mare, her suckling foal, a jumping lion and parts of a further lion, all framed by vine tendrils. 31Fig. 25

An outstanding smaller find is the copper strap end with a fire-gilded surface measuring 8.9 x 1.5 cm. The end fitting of the belt shows two mythical creatures and leafy tendrils. The decoration of the strap end is based on the so-called Tassilo Chalice style, and dates the object to the last quarter of the 8th or the early 9th century.32Fig. 26

International connections

Sebastian Münster (1488–1552), who was born in Ingelheim, mentions that columns were brought to Ingelheim from Ravenna under Charlemagne in his ‘Cosmographia’.33 This statement corresponds with an account in the ‘Annales de Gestis Caroli Magni Imperatoris’ written by Poeta Saxo, mentioning columns from Ravenna and Rome being brought to Ingelheim.34 Both sources probably refer to Einhard (ca 770–840), who wrote in the ‘Vita Karoli Magni’, that Charlemagne had columns from Rome and Ravenna brought to Aachen.35Fig. 27Fig. 11Fig. 28 There is some evidence corroborating these claims for Ingelheim based on archaeological findings, but other spolia probably came from Roman ruins in the area which were still open during the building phase of the Pfalz. 36 In this context the stone relief from the ‘Burgkirche’ at Ober-Ingelheim has to be considered as it is thought to stem from Lombard craftsmanship.37Fig. 25

Charlemagne initiated the building of both the Pfalz at Ingelheim and in Nijmegen which can be corroborated by archaeological evidence and by Einhard38 in his ‘Vita Karoli Magni’. The monk Rahewin (died before 1177)39, mentions building works carried out at both sites under Frederick I (Barbarossa, ca 1122–1190) in his ‘Gesta Frederici’.40

Charles IV’s stay at the Pfalz in Ingelheim in 1354 is the last verified stay of a regent. He founded a monastery of the Canons Regular, which functioned as a branch of the Monastery of Karlshof in the New Town of Prague.41

The church of St George in Kostoľany pod Tribečom is renowned for its impressive wall paintings. Although archaeological excavations brought to light painted lime mortar at Ingelheim dating to the late 8th century, the panegyrical descriptions by the writer Ermoldus Nigellus (died ca 838?) of the paintings in the Pfalz cannot be compellingly confirmed by archaeological evidence.42Fig. 29

The Roman vici in Velzeke and Ingelheim both belonged to the hinterland of two larger towns, Bavay (France, Bagacum) and Mainz (Mogontiacum) respectively. During the 10th century, both Velzeke and Ingelheim had important churches. The large imperial synod in 948 for example took place in the church of St Remigius in IngelheimFig. 19, and was attended by the Kings Otto I and Ludwig IV, the papal legate Bishop Marinus of Bomarzo, and 32 other bishops from both Kingdoms.43

A gold coin, showing Charlemagne in the style of a Roman emperor with a Paludamentum (the emperor’s cape) and a laurel wreath was found in Ingelheim with the inscription on the front saying D(ominus) N(oster) KARLUSIMPAUGREX F(rancorum) ET L(angobardorum). The back of the coin shows a gate with the inscription Arelato. The solidus was made in Arles. It is the so far only known gold coin depicting Charlemagne. 44Fig. 30

A number of rich graves containing weapons and riding equipment dating to the 8th and 9th centuries were found in Biskupija-Crkvina. The fire-gilded copper strap end found at Ingelheim might have been worn on the belt of a rich contemporary of the deceased in the aforementioned cemetery.46Fig. 26

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This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This website reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

The project is co-funded by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic.